Undeniable Chemistry: The magic of CarGel

Fingers clasping, meaningful looks exchanging, and the subtle touching – host Vice Ganda may have mistaken two lovers flirting in a movie when he guested Angelica and Carlo in his weekly night show “Gandang Gabi Vice,” if he was blinded by their chemistry. (Photo: @iamangelicap/Instagram)

If loyal showbiz onlookers can come up with a list of couples with undeniable chemistry, ex-lovers Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino may just top that list.

Fingers clasping, meaningful looks exchanging, and the subtle touching – host Vice Ganda may have mistaken two lovers flirting in a movie when he guested Angelica and Carlo in his weekly night show “Gandang Gabi Vice,” if he was blinded by their chemistry.

For a former couple who dub their relationship as something “special” until now, the smiles pasted on their faces and nature of their actions during their guest interview could make two things: 1) fans squeal, and 2) non-fans join the CarGel fanclub.

The host even teased the two who just seemed to be a real couple with their nuances towards each other, just like when Carlo leaned on Angelica and pressed his face to her back, Vice Ganda could not keep his mouth shut just like a keen commentator in a game.

Angelica, evidently having fun with the reaction of one of her close friends, casually brushed Carlo’s fringe. The ‘kilig’ combo attack made the crowd scream in joy, as if unable to believe the scenes unfolding before them.

Another really small gesture that may have gone unnoticed especially for those who watched the televised version was the fact that Carlo adjusted the seats just to be able to sit really close to Angelica. In the uncut version of the episode, as everyone prepares, Carlo can be seen going around the seats then, later on, subtly inching his seat to Angelica’s. He coolly places his hand at the backrest of her chair, making it seem as the most natural thing in the (their) world.

How about when Angelica stares at Carlo, laughing and casually taps his knee?

If that was not enough, perhaps that time when Carlo pulls Angelica towards him and presses his head to hers would be one of the best gifts a hardcore fan must see before they leave this planet.

We could come up with a whole list of the smallest yet biggest kilig moments throughout the episode, but this article aims to explore the roots of their chemistry. Just what is that spark of magic of CarGel that tickles all of our sleeping hearts?

Now that the two are cornerd in the hot seat, Vice took the effort to ask them the juiciest questions that may have remained unanswered in other interviews.

Do they love each other? Are they still in love with each other?

“Oo naman (Of course),” Angelica replied, with Vice commenting on how direct and fast she did.

When the question was directed to Carlo, he had an evident puzzled look as he mutters, “Kung mahal ko pa siya (If I still love her)?” Obviously caught off guard for a bit, all Carlo could do was pull Angelica closer (if possible) as Vice pressed on the question more.

“Hindi nga nawala, hindi nawawala ‘yun (It did not disappear, it does not disappear). Ever since sabi ko nga, special talaga (as I always say, she is really special),” his reply came.

Carlo also gave a firm “Oo (Yes)” when Vice persisted on the question of whether he was in love with her.

But the next big question came, why are they not back together when they are clearly open to admitting their love for each other?

Angelica immediately laughed at the question, while Carlo stared at Vice.

“Siguro ano, natatakot lang ako masaktan siya uli (Maybe because I am scared of hurting her again),” a sincere Carlo answered.

“May pagmamahal kami sa isa’t isa, sobra, ‘di ko kaya masaktan siya at ako ‘yung mag-cause (We have this massive love for each other, that I cannot take it to hurt him and for me to cause it),” came Angelica’s turn for sincerity.

Instead of the audience squealing though, the mood seemed more personal and sentimental, as if giving tribute to the emotions currently present in the air.

The unknown reasons on their breakup surfaced in the talk, putting Carlo in an awkward position. He soon admitted that one of the fears of taking a third shot on his romance with Angelica was the thought that he may commit the same mistakes again.

Though his ex-girlfriend teased him for being a flirt that soon brought third parties that ended their relationship, Angelica acknowledged that she feels that he is not one anymore.

Angelica, on the moment, also said that she does not like keeping grudges. Meeting Carlo, though things ended up going south between them, she said that because of him she learned how to forgive.

“Kung babalikan ko naman, mas okay na naghiwalay kami noon. Feeling ko ‘di kami mag-g-grow nang ganto. Feeling ko ‘di kami mag-w-work. Kung nagtuloy-tuloy, ‘di ko siguro ma-d-discover sarili ko, ‘di ako magiging independent. Ibang Angelica ako ngayon (Looking back, I think it is better that we separated before. I think we will not grow like. I feel like we will not work out. If our relationship went on, I may not have discovered myself, I will not be independent. I would have been a different Angelica today),” the 31-year-old actress confessed.

She added that if not for the breakup, she would not have discovered how he meant to her and how much impact he had on her.

The two admitted in the interview that they did not really take time to have such personal talks. With this, Vice encouraged them to tell each other the things they failed to say before through a question, a sana (I hope), and a sorry.

“Nung nagpaalam ka, pumayag na lang ako. Sorry kasi napagod ako (When you said goodbye, I just agreed. I’m sorry that I got tired of us),” Angelica’s apology made the audience awed, with Carlo appearing straight-faced before showing her his toothy smile.

For his turn, he chuckled at first, though he seemed to be teary-eyed. “Sorry siguro kasi napagod ka, dahil kasalanan ko. Inaamin ko naman ‘yun na nagkulang ako. Nagkulang ako sa’yo. (Sorry because you got tired and it was my fault. I admit that I was the one who did something wrong. I wronged you),” Carlo said.

For her wish, Angelica with her voice shaking spoke, “Sana pagka nahanap mo na ‘yung para sa’yo, sana ganto pa rin tayo (I hope that when you find the right girl for you, we will still be like this).” Though she tried to laugh after her statement, her eyes were all teary as she said that she really appreciates Carlo, who is always sweet and caring for her.

Carlo agreed with Angelica’s wish saying, “Sana ‘wag na matapos ‘yung kung ano meron tayo. Kapag kasama kita, kampante ako, alam mo pa’no ako pakalmahin (I hope that whatever we have right now does not end. When I am with you, I am contented. You know how to calm me down).”

The two held hands as they faced each other, with the studio drawn to the sincerity of their words.

Though Angelica and Carlo are in the show on the September 23 episode to promote their upcoming movie “Exes Baggage,” it would be an understatement to simply say that they look ‘good’ together.

“Susuportahan namin kayo. Gusto nga namin kayo ulit sana eh. (We will support you. Actually we really want you two to be together again) Pero (But) of course, we can only wish, we can never impose,” this was Vice’s words as he claimed to be one of the fans of the two, thankful that they were open on haring their past experiences.

Given all of these confessions in an episode, is it really just a special friendship that will reign over the two?

Angelica said that for her, she is more open-minded on the possibility of the two of them getting back together ever since they worked side-by-side again. Back then, she knew herself to be the type to let things reach their end as they are.

Carlo said that he is also open to the possibility, but part of him is still scared, especially that for him, Angelica deserves someone so great because she got hurt a lot of times already.

To lighten up the mood, Vice approached the two and pretended to wed them by imaginarily doing a wedding ceremony’s traditional stages.

Perhaps, people just cannot stop shipping these two because though their romantic relationship ended years ago, they managed to secure a stronger relationship that the chemistry just naturally comes to envelop them.

Just as what Vice said, fans can only hope for these two to end up in front of the altar one day, spending their lives together, but this can only be a wish. Whatever happens to them is something only the future will hold and something for us to look forward to.